America Finding Her Way

Jimbo?

  (Jimbo stops at pile of debris)

  Jimbo: He's here. Half of him.

  Teddy: Oh god. Is he...moving?

  Jimbo: No. Doesn't look... (Rolls Brad over, debris falls away) ...eaten.

  Teddy: (Holds himself, sobs uncontrollably) Oh God.

  Jimbo: Stop it! He's all there.

  (Brad is whole, but seems dead. Jimbo, taking deep breaths, tries to hold himself together, finally bends upstage, and heaving, vomits. In midst of this general breakdown, Brad groans)

  Jimbo: Brad? Brad! You just passed out, you shithead?

  (Brad groans again, painful)

  Jimbo: Wake up! You son of a bitch.

  Brad: (Blinking awake) What?

  Jimbo: What'd you do?

  Brad: (Dizzy, feels his forehead) Bear was charging me. I looked back, on the run. Must have hit something.

  Jimbo: Like a tree, head-on. He didn't chew you.

  Brad: Maybe thought I was dead. Buried me for later.

  Jimbo: Jesus!

  Teddy: We gotta move, we gotta get outta here.

  Brad: What we got left?

  Teddy: Nothing. Bear got everything. We got nothing!

  Jimbo: Shut up! Still got my pistol. Couldn't get it out, but the holster saved me. Bear chomped my shoulder. Bit right into it. What'd I tell you?

  Teddy: Get up Brad! We gotta get out of here.

  Jimbo: Tarzan got the shakes.

  Teddy: Jesus!

  (Teddy crumples to ground, clenching his teeth against sobs that shake him)

  Teddy: I want my rifle.

  Brad: OK, Teddy. We'll go after it.

  Jimbo: Don't talk nuts, Brad.

  Brad: Man needs his rifle. (Surveys clearing ahead, eyes on alert)

  Teddy: How we gonna go home? How we gonna face 'em?

  Jimbo: Jesus.

  Brad: Man needs his nerve.

  Teddy: What we gonna say? Freaking bear chased us off the mountain?!

  Brad: Hush up, Teddy. You'll be missing game.

  Teddy: What.

  Brad: Shhh. Get down.

  Jimbo: Jesus.

  (Alarmed, realizing Brad senses movement in clearing; they crouch, watching)

  Brad: Yup.

  Jimbo: What d'you see, Brad?

  Brad: Last pine right of the clearing, something nosing in.

  Jimbo: Bear don't forget his kill, Brad. He's coming back.

  Brad: Ain't a bear. Wind's our way. Don't know we're here.

  Teddy: Jesus, what you looking at?

  Brad: Pick up my rifle, Teddy.

  Teddy: Me?

  Brad: You need this kill.

  Teddy: (Holding himself, shaking) I can't...

  Brad: Chamber a round, Teddy.

  Teddy: (Eases rifle up and against his shoulder) Brad, I can't...

  Brad: Just what the doctor ordered. Fresh kill. Bet it's a two year doe.

  Jimbo: Yeah. She's stepping out.

  Brad: Take her.

  Jimbo: Got her sighted?

  Teddy: Yeah. She's...

  Brad: Wait out your aim. Breath deep and squeeze.

  Jimbo: Doe meat is sweet, man.

  Teddy: She's just about... Shit.

  Jimbo: What's a matter? Wanta give me the shot?

  Teddy: It's a squaw.

  Jimbo: What?

  Teddy: Ain't a doe. It's a squaw.

  Jimbo: (Takes rifle, sights– ) I'll be damned. A two-legged doe.

  Brad: What you talking. She's clear of the woods?

  Teddy: Pisses me off.

  Jimbo: It's a little squaw.

  Brad: Way up here?

  Jimbo: Calm as you please. Poking through weeds.

  Teddy: Why ain't she scared?

  Brad: Figgers she owns the place. Lemme see.

  Jimbo: Sweet meat, all right. It's a young one.

  Brad: (Looking through scope) Uhuh. Moving this way.

  Teddy: I'll take her. (Taking back the rifle) Still-hunt style.

  Jimbo: Hey, hey, there's life in the kid.

  (Jawea is moving slowly, gathering herbs, unaware of them)

  Teddy: Cute ass. Bent over like that. Give her a scare.

  Jimbo: She'll flip that sassy tail, and run.

  Teddy: Oo, lift that skirt.

  (Jawea straightens suddenly, senses something)

  Brad: (Hoarse whisper) She's sniffing bear.

  (Quiet. Jawea goes back to gathering, moves closer. Unexpectedly, the three men stand. She freezes, startled, her knife slips to the ground, but she looks at them calmly– unafraid. Distant Matu chant. Low drum begins)

  Brad: (Pause) Long way from home, Missy.

  (Jawea watches calmly, as Teddy and Jimbo break in two directions away from Brad, begin circling the "prey")

  Teddy: Out picking weeds? It's dangerous up here.

  Jimbo: Girl shouldn't be alone.

  Teddy: What if you met a big bad bear?

  Jimbo: Sweet thing like you.

  Teddy: Think it's your mountain, do you?

  Jimbo: Run. Give us a chase.

  (Jawea senses danger, but regards them quietly, like an animal waiting, holds her gathered herbs like an offering, toward each, as they approach her. Drum beats closer)

  Teddy: She's not scared, Jimbo. (Pause) How 'bout a piece of doe? Seal the pact? Just us and the mountain.

  Jimbo: (Chuckling) What a kid.

  Teddy: What say, Brad. Want a lick of this? ("Indian" hoot) Woowoowoo..

  (Teddy starts to close on Jawea, and she finally decides to run, but Jimbo also moves to grab her. Brad hesitates– )

  Brad: Wait.

  Jawea: (Low) No.

  (The herbs fly. Jawea struggles and squawks, but Teddy pins and ties her like a calf, with Jimbo whooping him on. Indian sounds increase, like approaching battle)

  Brad: Teddy!

  Jimbo: Brad wants to go first.

  Teddy: No. He offered me this kill.

  Jimbo: So give it to her. I'm next.

  Brad: Teddy...

  Teddy: Wait your turn, Brad.

  Brad: Wait!

  (Jawea screams. Background shrieks of savage Indian battle. Lights dim fast to tavern as the three surround her. It isn't clear how many rape her.)

  ___________________________________

  Tavern

  Segue into whoops of triumph at tavern. As hunters turn from Jawea, Kat, Dove, Faye and Ben surround them, celebrating their return. Jawea is sprawled downstage.

  Jimbo: We done it!

  Teddy: We met Blood White, and lived to tell it.

  Kat: Looks like he got a few pieces of you.

  Jimbo: Nothing that counts.

  (Whooping laughter)

  Dove: Round on me!

  Ben: To the mighty white hunters!

  Kat: Bless their pink tails.

  (Cheers. Jimbo and Teddy hug their women. Only Brad watches Jawea, dragging on her belly across the stage and out)

  Jimbo: Giant Blood White caught us with our pants down, but here we are, still on three good legs. (Laughter from everyone)

  Kat: Believe you and we'd believe anything.

  Dove: Brad should tell it.

  Kat: Come on, Brad.

  Dove: Spin us the yarn.

  Faye: Yeah, Brad'll tell it straight.

  Ben: Come on.

  Kat: Brad?

  (Brad drags his head up; they’re all looking at him, waiting)

  Brad: What?

  Kat: Tell the truth.

  Dove: What really happened on that mountain?

  (Jawea's scream repeats in distance. Shaken, Brad begins– )

  Brad: Blood White came on us at midnight... (Stops, seeing Lena approach)

  (Brad faces Lena, miserable, but her face lights with clear joy– )

  Lena: You're home!

  (Lena spreads her
arms, runs to embrace Brad. He's overjoyed, swings her around. The others roar their approval, and country western music swells)

  END ACT I